Lightning-arrester.



W. A. BINION.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1909.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. A. BININ.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER.

APPLIOATION FILED EEB. 2e, 1909.

Patented Jan.25, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM A. BINION, OF LISBON, NEW YORK.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

Application filed February 26, 1999. Serial No. 480,101..

To ell whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, lVILLLrM A. BINION, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Arrest ers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to lightning arresters designed for use in connection with electrical transmission systems of the high tension type, whereby the apparatus at the power station and translating devices connected with the system are effectively protected against high potential charges such as result from lightning.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation Of apparatus of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eiiicient in use, and adapted for use in transmission systems of various voltage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lightning arrester including a path for the charge to pass off to ground, there being an air gap in such path and combined therewith is an oil-containing casing which is moved into operative relation with the gap as to effectively extinguish the are.

A further object is the employment of a dampening or retarding device for preventing the oil-containing case restoring to non mal position with a destructive shock.

An additional object is the employment of separate electro-magnets operating, respectively, to separate the electrodes or carbons of the air gap, and to move the oil-containing case into operative relation with the air gap incident to the passage of a charge through the arrester, the first electro-magnet being connected with the transmission line and the other being included in the path through which the charge passes to ground.

lith these objects in View and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front view of the lightning arrester. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged vertical sectional views showing the operating parts in extreme positions. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view for showing the adjustingmeans for varying the size of the air gap. vFig. 5 is a diagramatic view of the circuit connections.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the *iews Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a supporting slab of marble, slate, liber, or other insulating material, on which the va rions parts of the apparatus are mounted. At the top of the panel l are binding posts 2, I3 and d, for connecting the arrester with the tanslnission line. The binding posts 2 and 3 are connected by wires 5 and 6 with an electro-magnet B which controls the separation of the air gap electrodes, and, as shown in Fig. 5, the binding posts 2 and 3 are connected with the line L at the points 7 and 8. Between the points 7 and 8 is a choke coil C that is disposed in shunt relation with the winding 9 of the ele1tro-magnet B. The terminal et is connected by a wire 10 with the line L between the choke coil C and point 7, and this post is also connected by wire 11 with the charge-conducting pathL of the arrester.

A pair of carbon or equivalent electrodes 12 and 18 are arranged in superimposed relation so that between their inner extremities an air gap will be provided. The upper carbon is suitably connected with an iron core 15 for the electro-magnet B, so that the electrodes will be separated when current passes through the winding of the electromagnet. The core of the electrounagnet so arranged as to 'drop under the attraction of gravity when the electro-magnet is unenergized. The core 15 is shrunk or otherwise secured to a brass tube 16 extending downwardly through the spool 17 of the eleetro magnet, and on the upper end of the tube 16 is a nut 18 which rests on the top of the spool to thereby limit the downward move ment of the upper electrode and core. 0n the lower end of the sleeve 16 is a nut 19 against which the bottom end of the core 15 bears. The upper carbon fits into or is de* tachably connected in an suitable manner with the tube 16 so that electrodes of different length or sizes can be employed for adapting the apparatus for use in systems of different voltages. The electro-magnet B is mounted upon a bracket D of suitable insulating material, which bracket is secured to the panel 1, there being slots 20 in the bracket through which t'astenings 2l extend for securing the bracket to the panel in a manner to provide vertical adjustment ot the bracket. The wire ll connected with the middle binding post l passes downwardly through the tube 1G, as shown in Figs. 2 and and is electrically connected with the upper electrode 1Q.

The lower electrode l?) is connected with ground to conduct ott the lightning charge. This lower electrode is supported on the upper end of the vertical brass tube 2'2 which is supported in upright position by passing through brackets 23 and Q-lA of insulating material and secured to the panel l. The lower end ot the tube QQ is supported on an adjusting screw 25 threaded in a bracket 2G arranged on the panel l, below the bracket 24. By adjusting this screw. the rod 22 that supports the lower electrode is raised or lowered so as to 'arv the air gap between the electrodes. Attached to the upper end ot the 5 tube and insulated therefrom is a suitable resistance that is electrically connected with the low r electrode '13, and interposed between the bottom of the latter and the top end otl the tube or hollow rod Connected with the lower end ot the resistance it is a wire 2T which passes dmvnwardly through the brass rod '22 and out through an opening QS therein7 Fig. i. to connect with a grounded wire 29. path thus provided tor thc discharge to ground through the electrode and air gap.

The arc between the electrodes. due to the passage of a lightning charge. is adapted to be broken in a body ot oil. For this purpose, an oil-containing casing F is arranged in such a manner as to be moved into cooperative relation with the air gap when a charge passes through the arrester. The. casing is normally disposed below the air gap and the supportingrod 2Q tor the lower electrode passes upwardly through the center of the bottom ot the casing F. The casing is a glass cylindrical structure having a conical reentrantI top 3l that is provided with an opening 3Q through which the lower electrode protrudes. Surrounding the rod 22 and disposed below the oil casing F is a snort brass tube S?) that has its upper end eXteriorly threaded and disopening through which the rod Q2 extends.

Securely fastened to the outer sleeve 323 is a tubular iron core 37 forming parto the electro-magnet or solenoid This electro-magnet is arranged below the casing .l4` and is supported on a bracket C' which is adjustaoly secured to the panel l like the upper bracket D. The electro-magnet t'orms a rest t'or the oil-containing casing l" when the latter is iu normal or lowered position and through the hollow ot the electro-inagnet the tubes 22 anc 323 extend. The winding ot the electro-niaguet IBS is: arranged in a shunt path between ground and the lower electrode. This shunt path consists ot` a wire 39 connected with the upper end of the resistance Tt which at all tintes. within the casing F, and the wire pass-:es out through an oil-tight opening l0 in the bottom otl the casing aud is connected with the, winding ot' the electro-n1agnet 23S. the other terminal ot the electro-magnet winding bcing connected by a wire -l-'l with the groundcd wire 2f). The resistaiice ot the windings 3S suitably proportioned with respect to the resistance R so that a current ot suitable value, incident to a discharge. will pass through the electro-uiague 35% to raise the core 3T thereof and the oil casing carried therel'LV. Ou the lower cud ot the tube 535i is a iiacking box t2 which'prevents lubricant trom creeping down between the tubes 32 and 33 and leaking out.

In order to prevent the oil-containing casing from dropping to normal position with destructive shocks or a dampening or retarding device is employed. This comprises one` or more dash pots H of the hydraulic or air type, as desired. and consists et plunger cylinders t3 supported on a bracket and disposed at opposite sides ot the hollow rod and in which are arranged plungers l5, the rods -lt ot' which extend upwardly out of the cylinders and are connected with a yoke piece '-'l-T screwed on the lower end of a brass tube -l-S at a point above the packing box By means otl the-:e dash pots. the oil-containing receptacle (t and attached parts gradually settle bv Lf-ravinY to their lowerniost position. i

Tn the ground wire Q9 is an automa tieallvactuated switch which consists ot a metal or other conducting bar Lit) that is adapted to engage contacts 50 and 5l t`or maintaining the path closed to ground as long as the transmission system is in operation. This ground switch, which may be mounted on the panel on the lightning arrester. closed by an electro-nntgnet` :3Q/operating against gravity. the electro-magnet being connected by wires and :H with the transmission line at opposite terminals et the choke coil (l. The closing movement of the switch bar t9 is retarded by a dash pot so that the ground switch will not close until atter the top electrode l2 is raised.

n practice the parts are in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. when no current is passing in the transmission line, and soon as the transmission line becomes energized, the electro-magnet B raises the upper electrode 12 until the stop or nut 19 strikes the bottom et the electro-magnet spool, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby creating an. air gap of several inches. At the same time the electro-magnet of the ground switch will be energized so as to close the ground wire after the electrodes 12 and 13 have been separated. By the separation ot thc electrodes, the normal current will be prevented from passing ott to ground so that the electro-magnet 38 will' be deenergized and the oil receptacle F in lowered position. The air gap between the separated electrodes can be adjusted not only by means of the screw 25, but also by placing washers or rings on the nut 19, as shown in Fig. 3 so as to shorten the upward movement of the upper electrode. As soon as a lightning discharge occurs, the upper electrode 12 will move downwardly toward the relativelyfixed electrode 13 and admit of the lightning passing otlf to ground through the two paths provided by the resistance R and electromagnet 3S. rlhis may be due to the fact that the abnormal charge passing oli' through wire 11 deprives wire 5 of current, thus allowing electrode 12 to fall against electrode 13. The electro-magnet is thus energized so as to raise the oil receptacle at a point to cause the tips of the electrodes 12 and 13 to be submerged to thereby cause the oil to eX- tinguish the arc between the electrodes as the upper one is raised by the electro-magnet as soon as the charge passes oit. After the discharge has passed to ground, the electromagnet 38 becomes denergized and the vessel F gradually settles to normal position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and ot the method ot operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, l desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what .l claim is 1. A lightning arrester comprising relatively-movable electrodes, an electro-magnet normally connected with the main of the transmission system for holding the electrodes separated, and m ans for automaticall"v submerging the electrodes in a body or insulating liquid upon a lightning discharge through the arrester.

2. A lightning arrester comprising relatively-movable electrodes providing an air gap, and electro-magnetically actuated means responsive to an electric discharge through the arrester for submerging the electrodes in a body oit insulating liquid to break the are between the electrodes.

8. A lightning arrester comprising relatively-movable electrodes forming an air gap, an electro-magnet for holding the electrodes separated, a vessel. containiiiig oil for submerging the electrodes at the air gap to break the arc incident to a discharge through the arrester, and an electro-magnet responsive to the discharge current for moving said vessel into operative position.

t. A. lightning arrester comprising spaced electrodes forming a path for a lightning discharge, a vessel'containing oil, an electromagnet responsive to a discharge current for raising the vessel against the action of gravity to submerge the electrodes at their spaced ends, and means for retarding the return movement ot the vessel as the latter drops by gravity.

A lightning arrester comprising electrodes constituting an air gap, means for connecting one ot the electrodes to a transmission line, means for grounding the other electrode including a shunt, an electro-magnet in the shunt, a receptacle containing oil and movable by the electro-magnet to a position for extinguishing the arc when a discharge occurs through the arrester, and a dash pot connected with the vessel for retarding the return movement thereof.

G. A. lightning arrester comprising an electro-magnet, means for connecting the same in series with a transmission line, a choke coil arranged in shunt relation to the electro-magnet, electrodes providing an air gap and adapted to be separated by the electro-magnet, means for connecting one of the electrodes with the transmission line, means for grounding the second electrode and including a resistance, a shunt bridging the resistance, an electro-magnet included in the shunt, and an oil-containing vessel moved by the shunt to a position tor breaking the arc between the electrodes.

7. A lightning arrester comprising an electro-magnet, means for connecting the saine in series lwith a transmission line, a choke coil arranged in shunt relation to the electro-magnet, electrodes providing an air gap and adapted to be separated by the electro-magnet, means for connecting one of the H electrodes with the transmission line, means tor grounding the second electrode and including a resistance, a shunt bridging the resistance, an electro-magnet included in the shunt, an oil-containing vessel moved by the shunt 'to a position for breaking the are between the electrodes, and a retarding device connected with the said receptacle whereby the latter returns gradually to normal position.

llO

Cri

S. The combination of a lightning arrester comprising a support, electro-magnets mounted thereon in spaced relation, electrodes disposed between the electro-magnets, means connecting one of the electrodes with the core ot' the upper electro-magnet, means for connecting the upper electrode and the upper electro-magnet with a transmission line, a member connected with the core onf the lower' electro-magnet, a vessel supported on the -said member and containing oil in which the electrodes are submerged when the vessel is raised by the lower electro-magnet, means on the support for adjusting' the member to vary the air gap between the electrodes, a retarding device connected with the member and mounted on the panel to cause the Vessel to return to normal position gradually, and a grounded path connected with the lower electrode and in which the winding of the lower electrode is connected.

9. The combination of a lightning arrester including relatively-movable electrodes, elec trical means for holding the electrodes normall)Y Separated7 a transmission line connected with the said means, a ground Wire connected with one of the electrodes, a switch for closing the ground wire, electrical means connected with the transmission line and arranged to close the ground switch after the separation of the electrodes by the first-mentioned electrical means.

In testimon)Y whereof I atIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM A. BINION.

Vitnesses HARVEY LOCKERBY, ROY C. BINION. 

